Research by the Coach Tourism Council shows that more and more people are choosing to take holidays by coach. Coach holiday bookings for the first period of 2009 are 20% up on the same period last year as holidaymakers of all kinds seek better and better value.

Coach travel has always been a great value option, and more and more people are seeing that now as they look to tighten their belts. Skiers are no different – they don’t want to sacrifice their time on the slopes, so they’re looking at cost saving measures instead”

says Colin McIntosh, Managing Director of Interski, a specialist Italian ski tour operator who feature an extensive coach programme. Continue reading ‘More people traveling by bus for ski holidays’

 Print This Post

St Anton’s ‘other’ ski area, Rendl, will be much more accessible next winter thanks to a brand new access lift from a much more convenient location.

The new lift containing 68, eight passenger, cabins will whisk up to 2,000 skiers per hour up to the under-used ski area.
It will be located more than 300m from the existing lift with the base near the roundabout and bus station at the western entrance to the resort, making it much easier to reach for skiers coming from the other areas of Galzig and Kapall.
Work on the new lift is due to begin next month and it will be operational in time for next winter.
There will also be a doubling of snowmaking capacity and the improvements follow on from recent upgrades to runs such as the removal of steep sections ion key blue runs last summer.

Read about more ski projects by clicking here.

 Print This Post

A six-day ski pass covering the 400km ‘International’ ski area shared by Cervinia in Italy and Switzerland in Europe will cost 405 Swiss Francs next winter for adults, up from 394 Swiss Francs this season.
However at the current time the strengthening pound, after its low point in the winter, means that for citizens of the UK and the Eurozone, the ticket will cost less, rather than more, than in 2008-9, if the current exchange rate trend continues.
In January the 394 Swiss Franc ticket, the most expensive in Europe at the time for a linked ski area, cost about 285 Euros or 255 pounds. Currently the 405 Swiss Franc ticket would cost 255 Euros or 235 pounds. The saving is about 11% for Euro-zone residents and 8% for Brits.
Zermatt also has Europe’s most generous family ticket discounts with children born in or after 2000 skiing free, children born between 1993 and 1999 paying half price and even young adults born between 1989 and 1992 receiving a discount on the full adult rate. This differs from other European resorts where children may pay 70-80% of the full adult price from age four or five and the full rate from age 11 or 12.
The International ticket covers the 350km (219 miles) of piste in the Matterhorn Ski Paradise. A cheaper Zermatt-only ticket is available covering about 185km (165 miles) of piste, or a more expensive pass taking in more Aosta Valley skiing in Italy is another option.

To read more stories about Zermatt, click here.

 Print This Post

Les 2 Alpes is promoting itself as a place for beginners to learn to ski or board in the summer as well as winter, this year.

“In summer, you can learn to ski on the glacier at Les 2 Alpes, at over 3,000 metres of altitude. The ski area has a gentle elevation difference and wide slopes, making it easy to learn to ski or snowboard. Beginners and families intermingle with professionals, ski clubs and international ski teams,”

said a resort spokesperson.
Just like in winter, sports shops rent out skiing and snowboarding equipment. The ski schools are open too with around fifty instructors and 10 establishments offering classic skiing or snowboarding lessons and for the more advanced competition skiing, preparation for the French national skiing diploma, slalom, Freestyle, moguls and so on.
A lift pass providing access to the summer ski area and to tourist ski lifts (pedestrians and mountain bikes) is available for €32.50 a day for children aged 13 and over and adults to age 64. Children aged 5 to 13 and adults over 65 years pay €26 Euros. A half day pass is also available from 9.30am and a six day version is also available (Adult = €162.50 over 13 and under 65 or €130 for younger children and adults over 65.)
Ticket holders not only receive unlimited access to summer ski lifts and tourist lifts but also free entry to the swimming pool, ice rink, tennis, archery, driving range, water sports and Alpine slide and preferential rates for other activities.

 Print This Post

Vail Resorts which owns Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Keystone in Colorado as well as Heavenly in California has reported business down for the 2008-9 season.
Figures to April 12, 2009, for the Company’s five mountain resorts were down 6.2% compared to the prior year season to date period ending April 13, 2008 for skier visits. Lift ticket revenue for the same period was down 8.7% and bookings for the 2008/2009 ski season through the Company’s central reservations and directly at the Company’s owned and managed properties as of March 31, 2009, were down 12.8% compared to the same period last year.
Commenting on the figures, Rob Katz, Chief Executive Officer said, “Our season to date metrics … experienced a slight decline in the trends compared to the prior interim season statistics released through March 1, 2009, as compared to March 2, 2008, with total lift revenue down 8.7% versus the 8.0% reported for the March 1, 2009, season to date period. … This was attributable to a deterioration in our ski season metrics during the last two weeks of March 2009, where the close-in booking pattern, which had been strong throughout the winter ski season did not materialize to the same degree. This was partially offset by a recovery in our ski season metrics in April 2009, with Easter occurring on April 12, … and with favourable snow conditions at our Colorado resorts.”
Commenting on Epic Season Pass sales, Katz continued,

On March 11, 2009, we announced the return of the Epic Season Pass for the 2009/2010 ski season. We are very pleased with the number of 2009/2010 Epic Season Passes sold to date, which is already significantly exceeding the number of Epic Season Passes sold in the entire prior year spring sales period through May 31, 2008.”

www.snow.com

Read more stories about Vail by clicking here.

 Print This Post

Californian resort Mountain High has bucked the credit crunch trend and announced increased business for the 12th successive year, partially crediting local skiers axing destination trips and skiing locally for its success.
Mountain High saw ticket reservations reach an all time high and private lessons grew another 8% over a 31% jump the previous year, leading resort officials to conclude that avid skiers and snowboarders will participate even in poor economic times.
Mountain High President and CEO, Karl Kapuscinski said

Of the 12 years I have been at Mountain High, this is the one I am most proud of. With all the external challenges, the team here did an unbelievable job.”

Continue reading ‘California ski resort bucks trends with 31% increase in business’

 Print This Post

What is reported to be the first new distillery in the United States since prohibition will open at Park City in Utah, the state most famous for its strict alcohol laws, and from next winter the new High West Distillery will be (the owners believe) the world’s first ski-in distillery.
The “small-batch artisan distillery” will operate an “après-mountain saloon” from its location in the century old “National Garage” on the famous ski town’s Park Avenue, close to the town lift.
In keeping with Utah’s strict alcohol consumption laws the new distillery will be operated as a private club meaning visiting skiers must pay a (Usually small) membership fee to join the club or be invited in as a guest of an existing member if they are to sample the product.
The distillery is the brainchild of a former biotechnician who received whiskey distilling training in Kentucky and has already won gold medals and highly graded reviews from magazine connoisseurs for his initial ‘Rendezvous Rye’ whiskey – brewed in a local warehouse from whiskies from 6 to 16 year old brews from other distilleries. High West has now begun brewing its own under the direction of a Scottish-trained master distiller. However the distillery has already produced its first vodka and will follow this with a peach flavoured vodka later this year.

 Print This Post